Woodmen of the World - Redux! Multi-Cache

A multi-stage quest in a small cemetery. This is a replacement for my original Woodmen of the World. The final for that cache is now a highway underpass. If you found that cache, you're welcome to find this one as well.

Note that the puzzle has changed somewhat. Unlike the original cache, there is no driving between stages. Everything can be found within the cemetery.

Jump to Puzzle

Who are The Woodmen of the World? Over a century ago, Joseph Cullen Root established the organization, "envisioning a fraternal society dedicated to helping its fellowman." The organization offered a simple term life insurance policy to its members. One interesting aspect of those early policies was that upon death, a headstone would be provided free of charge, if requested. The headstone had to be of a design approved by the organization. The early classic designs are a tree trunk with the limbs cut off, and a stack of cut logs. Other designs were later introduced, and local stonecutters often added their own embellishment.

A great number of people took advantage of the offer, to the point where some cemeteries established separate areas just for Woodmen burials.

There are a number of items that can usually be found on the upright "trunk" type monuments:

• The Woodman's Tools - usually presented grouped together, but occasionally in a "fallen tools" display.
  • The Maul (a hammer used to drive a wedge).
    
  • The Ax.
    
  • The Wedge (used to split logs). If the Maul and Ax are presented with their handles crossed, the wedge is almost always displayed directly above or below them. In a few cases, it may be shown driven into one of the limb stumps, perhaps on the back of the monument.
• The Dove - classic symbol of peace.
• "DUM TACET CLAMAT" - Latin for "Though silent, he speaks".
• The Insignia of the Woodsmen of the World (see image below).
• The Cut Limbs. All the limbs on the trunk are cut off. This is said to symbolize a life cut short.
• The Pedestal. The trunk is not set directly on the ground. It is instead set on a pedestal, about a foot tall. Sometimes the pedestal is in the form of two large logs lying on their side. Other times it will be a square block, sometimes carved with vines.
• Vines. Vines with large leaves are often carved into the pedestal, and continued up the trunk.
  
  

Here's your task: The coordinates listed above take you to the historical plaque just inside the Shady Grove Cemetery entrance. (It mentions the oldest gravestone in the cemetery. You can find it by going behind and to the left of the plaque, but that's not what you're searching for). There are four of the classic Woodmen monuments in this cemetery. Three of them are of the large tree-trunk variety (though one is broken in half). The remaining one is of the stacked-logs variety. Find each Woodmen monument, and write down the year specified in the description below. Then perform the calculation to start your cache search. All stages can be found within the cemetery.

Jacob Sitton - If you found the oldest headstone in the cemetery, you should have no problem finding this Woodmen memorial. I like the inclusion of the woodcutter's tools into the monument. You will need Mr. Sitton's year of birth.

James F. Lusk - This one will be different. Look for an upright stack of logs, about 3 feet high. When you find it, be sure to look at the detailed carving of the logs on the back of the monument. Two upright logs frame the lateral logs, which are shorter than the ones on the front. You will need Mr. Lusk's year of death.

J. L. Daugherty - Poor Mr. Daugherty. I hope his life turned out better than his gravestone. Sometime in the last 90 years, it cracked and broke in half. From the erosion of the stone, it looks like it happened quite a while ago. And to add insult to injury, the stonecutter misspelled his name! You'll notice the "R" was left out. You can see the correct spelling on family member gravestones nearby. Did you find the Wedge on this monument? It's not in the usual place.You will need Mr. Daugherty's year of death.

J. D. Barton - This one's my favorite. I like the carving of the large leaves on the front of the pedestal and the detailing of the vines growing up the trunk of the tree. You will need Mr. Barton's year of birth.

The Calculation:

Daugherty      __  __ __ __

Barton     +   __  __ __ __

           + 4  4   3  5  3

    N 3 2   __ __ .__ __ __


Lusk           __  __ __ __

Sitton*    -   __  __ __ __

           +    1   1  1  1

  W 0 9 7    0 __ .__ __ __

*Note minus sign

What you're looking for: Unlike its previous incarnation, all stages can be found without leaving the cemetery. All placed stages are micros. They all use hiding techniques I've used in previous caches.